midnightstar

"Of course not. After all you were the one who did that for me so..." Okay he might have slipped out too much because his mouth clamps up from continuing while the blush threatens to overtake all the way up to his ears.

Did he just say what she thinks he said? She quickly refocused her attention on her food, a flush rising in her cheeks as well. But this definitely confirms that she might in fact, get Sharon to give them some privacy during lunch to do just that! Aah, but then they will have free time afterwards, and then their date and oh goddess she had nervous butterflies all over again. "O-oh, ... I see..." Cough. Aheh, my what a deep color of yellow the cheese in th is omelette is!

He did indeed and now Rean was feeling as nervous as he once was as a young student back in the good old days. My the tomatos in this salad were so perfectly ripe. A perfect match to the red dusting his own cheeks as he quickly busied himself with eating agian while sneaking as many glances over to Alisa as he could get away with.

SHE IS EXTREMELY AWARE OF HIS PRESENCE NEXT TO HER and she doesn't know why she feels so nervous and awkward. "Phoo.... I don't think I can eat another bite." she sighs after a moment, when the awkward, nervousness got to be too much for her to bear. She leans back in her chair a little, eyeing the spread, then quickly picked up her glass of cranberry juice to finish.

He is just as aware. In fact he might even be able to hear the strong booming pouding in her chest given his borderline in human senses like that one time he was able ot make out the pessengers aboard the Eisen graf before the attack in Crossbell from the liberation front.

As it were though Rean was also done eating so he was free to move on to his cup of coffee.

"Sharon really outdid herself yet again."

She hoped he couldn't hear it with those senses of his. She'd be so embarrassed! "Yeah, she really sets the bar high for home cooking. I wish I knew how she learned to cook so well ..." She paused, frowning, "... but for her, it probably came easily." Oh lord Alisa now is not the time to sulk about your cooking skills compared to hers.

Well if he heard it, he was doing a good job concealing that fact at the moment. Seeing Alisa feel down on herself about her cooking quickly prompted Rean to take hold of her hand under the table again.

"Don't be like that. There's few people more hardworking than you. I'm sure if you keep at it you'll catch up to Sharon in no time." As if he would ever doubt Alisa.

Alisa glanced up at him, the smile returning to her face. "... You're right," she smiled softly, "And I have even more reason to catch up to her now." Being able to cook things for him when he visited - or when she visited him.

That smile was Zemuria's greatest treasure. Rean held that belief now and damn if that was ever going to change in his mind. He was absolutely stunned for a moment before he leaned over to press his lips to Alisa's cheek again.

"That's the Alisa I know~"

Wasn't that supposed to be Princess Alfin? Well Alisa sure wasn't going to try to change his mind, though she'd certainly be flattered. When he leaned over to kiss her cheek, she grinned a bit more, leaning over to give him a one armed hug, "Heehee. Come on, if you're done, let's get this packed up for the researchers." Though selfishly she kind of wanted to spend all day inside with him, wrapped up his arms.

...maybe tomorrow since it'd be his last day. ... she didn't even want to think about that though.

No, Princess Alfin was Erebonia's treasure. Alisa was Rean's and her value extended far far beyond the confines of the Empire. His smile was hidden by her cheek but she could no doubt feel it before he pulled away.

"Sounds like a plan." Though a part of him hoped Schimdt was not included in the group they would see. That man was....dificult to like to say the least.

His smile was her heaven - and he'll actually be lucky because Schmidt wouldn't be present in the group. He was a genius, certainly, but saying he was a nasty individual was being nice. His attitude went far beyond 'nasty'.

"Sha-ack!" Alisa yelped in the middle of calling for Sharon, because when she stood and turned to call for the maid, the lovely lady was already on hand with a few pieces of tupperware stacked and ready to be filled. "Don't DO that!"

Sharon giggled, "My apologies, Lady Alisa." Sorry not sorry, more like. She set the upperware down on the table, "Would you like some assistance?"

Alisa sighed heavily. She's going to BELL that woman one of these days. "I think we can manage - Rean?" She glanced over at him curiously.

The fact that she was able to sneak up on both of them like this without Rean noticing her either was already a done deal by this point. Enforcers still were something of a force of nature after all and Sharon was one of them even if not as powerful as say McBurn.

He did let out a soft sigh of resignation before he nodded to Alisa's question.

"Yeah we should be able to handle this just fine."

Sharon nodded, "Then I will attend to a little shopping for your return." Since Alisa was going to make lunch as promised. "I'm afraid I won't be able to stay however. I will still be able to help you in the kitchen, though, my lady, so no need to worry about that."

It's like she read Alisa's mind when Alisa had considered asking Sharon to give them some privacy for lunch! "And you two will be going out for dinner as well, yes?"

Alisa nodded - then blinked, "Wait, how did you know about that!?"

Sharon chuckled, "Oh I have my ways. ♥" She smiled at Alisa's groaning response. "But I will be with your mother and Master Gwyn for the rest of the evening," for a second she looked almost troubled - but only for a second. "So you both will be on your own until morning."

Alisa, on hearing that, wasn't sure to be overjoyed or extremely nervous to be honest. "Oh --?" Yeah try to make that casual. "All right then." Not looking at Rean not looking at Rean not looking at Rean. Yep yep, she's just packing up some food here...

Honestly asking the how around Sharon was simply a waste of time at this point. Still he could not really fault Alisa for trying. This kind of idle banter was also part of their precious relationship.

Of course, that pondering is throw completely off the rails as he hears that Sharon will br out. All. NIGHT. So it would be just him and Alisa. Aidios give him strength to resist the temptations.

Aidios have mercy, Rean might not be the only one having to resist temptations. Especially if he unconsciously used that charm of his. Sharon lifted an eyebrow at Alisa's oh so casual response, and leaned forward, whispering something to the younger girl before pulling back with a giggle.

Alisa's face turned an even darker red, but shep oitnedly ignored Sharon, "I think that's everything, right?" she surveyed the table, almost desperate for a change in topic.

They were both doomed then since unless tragedy was happening in front of him, that natural charm of his was always going to be a potential hazard. To make matters worse SHaron was stoking his curiosity with how she had whispered something to Alisa only for the lovely girl to blush up a storm and try to bury the topic completely.

Alisa is NEVER going to tell Rean what Sharon had whispered to her. Ever. Never ever. Still, with everything sorted out in their respective plastic containers, Alisa turned to start towards the door.

"Ah, My Lady one more thing -" Sharon called after them.

Alisa nearly flinched, wary as she glanced over her shoulder, "Yes?"

"Have fuuuuuuuuuun ♥." Sharon beamed, waving a hand at the pair.

Alisa inwardly grimaced, glancing over to Rean and smiling weakly, "Ahah... let's go."

That is most likely for the best seeing as Rean was having a hard enought time coping with his own impulses and desires without Sharon giving her more suggestive advice.

He awkwardly waved back before turning a bigger smile to Alisa as he nodded and followed her out the door with the bag of packed food for the self starved scientists.

At least the research division isn't actually far, just a few floors down. They worked independently of R.I.T where Schmidt worked, so Alisa was more willing to cooperate with them. And to treat them with warm cookning. Maybe that was a little selfish though.

That being said, the elevator ride to their destination almost ten floors down was still a little awkward, considering she was trying not to think about the thing Sharon had whispered to her. And the fact that they were going to be alone. Actually alone.

There was no way in hell Rean would not notice that Alisa had fallen suspiciously quiet since Sharon's whisper. As such he cleared his throat while the elevator brought them down to the development branch.

"So uhm have you heard anything new from the others recently?"

Alisa gave him a startled glance, as if she had forgotten he was there with her for a second. "Huh? Oh-! Well... kind of. I spoke with Emma a few weeks ago when she was passing through town and stopped by to say hi. And I talked to Gaius -" She paused, reminded of the trip to Nord with a fond smile. "But the others have been pretty busy aside for that.

"I am guessing she still hasn't found Vita yet then." No surprise really. She did lose Ouroboros' plans in Erebonia to the man who had also stolen away his intended future.

That trip to Nord had been the beginning of so many things for Rean. But it was also when he started coming to terms with how amazing the girl by his side really was.

"That makes sense. Everyone else would be busy with everything going on in the empire. Jusis' position was not enviable in the slightest. With Rufus being assiged as Governor in Crossbell, he was left to manage house Albarea and clean up the enormous aftermath left behind by his deluded father.

"I'm looking forward to this surprise project you have to show me."

Alisa shook her head, "No, she hasn't." She admitted. She felt a little bad for her, really - Emma had spent so long looking for Vita, only to find her - and then lose her again without getting the talk she wanted. A decent one anyway.

She also didn't envy the others their positions. With the exception of Laura and Elliot, almost all of them had challenging tasks ahead of them.

"Haha, I hope you won't be disappointed then," Alisa grinned sheepishly. He was looking forward to it so much, he might have higher expectations than it deserved!

Honestly his bastard of a father had ruined the lives of so many of his friends and acquaintances while his popularity with the people unrelated to him soared.

He had even seen some of his old acquaintances in school start to voice thoughts and opinions that resonated entirely with Osborne.

Despite that the other person who often he could honestly talk to the few times they did meet was Patrick. How that had come about was a mystery in of itself.

Oh I am sure I won't be. Not if you put so much work into it."

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